Perry asks feds to reconsider ice-storm disaster aid

Gov. Rick Perry on March 13 appealed President Barack Obama’s denial of a major disaster declaration for 15 Texas counties following severe winter storms Dec. 5-9, 2013. The declaration would have provided federal public assistance for recovery efforts.

“Severe winter weather of this scale and duration is highly unusual in Texas, and has created a strain on both finances and resources for Texas communities,” Gov. Perry said. “Families and businesses affected by the storms are in need of significant additional resources beyond local and state capabilities. I urge President Obama to reconsider his denial of assistance to these communities.”

The list of counties includes Grayson, Fannin, Lamar, Red River, Collin, Hunt, Delta, Dallas and Kaufman counties, as well as some counties west of those.

On Dec. 5, a cold front created a destructive ice storm over Northeast Texas, mainly north of Interstate Highway 20 in counties south and west of Fort Worth and extending diagonally north and east to the Arkansas border. Freezing rain continued in Northeast Texas, increasing accumulation of ice and snow on roadways, roofs and trees. Lack of warming temperatures and lows in single digits prohibited relief from ice and snow buildup through December 9. Areas north of Dallas received up to five inches of ice, with eight inches accumulated in and around the City of Paris.